Belt conveyer.



No. 826,312. PATENTBD JULY 17, 1906. R. MLCATLN. BELT GSNVEYBRJ APPLCTEFILED APR.12. 1G04,

6 SHEETS-SHEET B.

ICI IDI A PATENTED JULY 1?, w06.

R. M. CATLIN. BELT CONVEYER. APPLICATION MLM: 52.12.1904.

6 SHEETS-513327' f guus pio: @ggd @0 am@ @trouw lj PATBNTBD JULY 17,1906.

R. M. CATLXN. BELT CONVBYER.

APPLxcATloN ULEB mmm, w04.

6 SHEBTS-SHEET 5.

swcntoz n www 9ATENTBD JULY 17, E966.

6 SHEETS-SHEET E nucntez wilnun:

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE-J BELT CONVEYER.

No. 82eme Sneclcation of Lettera Patent.

`1"'atenteel July Y17'72', ll. i

Application iiled April l2, ll. Serial No. 202,865.

To .all whom it muy confiera:

niining engineer, of the South Rose eep Gold Minima Com en Limited,Wise-'etersrand District, in t ie oony ofthe'irensveel, have inventedcertain new and useful im f Previamente in Belt Conveyers, of which theallowing is a srecification.

I itiierto be t` conveyers have 'been cmic Aplojred for transportingmeterial'onlycver comparatively short. distances ,and within erestricted ran'gefof upward inclination from Athe-horizfcn-tel, thelimltinganglc of which is .theoreticallylconsidered to be'about twenty.`-seven degrees,&ltl1oughin actual practice an angle of. twenty-twodegrees is about the V.maximum attained: AThe existing methods fo"construction while being eilicient enough jor such limited servicebecome-inadequate 2o' when applied to oonveyers of great length or thosewhich are set at a considerable angle to thehorizcntel.' In the formerease; owing to i' the greet lengtnandlcost of the belt, its preservationbecomes a matter of much moment,

2.5 viihile, on the 'other hand, the influences making for itsdestruction are greatly au mcnted.

Among the "dificulties encounters are the `injuriousllg7 hih stressesreduced in the feb- 'elt y reesono the greet Weight of f thedriving-drum, the weer of the elt caused by heavy masses of. conveyedoreA striking i through it against the supportingrollers 3 5 when theseare employed, and the r-r l1ihitixfeVY 09st of such rollers when theyare ttcd in the large numbers demanded for the proper sup porting of along belt.

The present mvention therefore relsteetc' o certain im rovements in themeans of sn-l porting an drivi conveyer'beltsin'order te ariattliern'to'suc extended use, cher??tersV ize pprimarily', bytransferring thestresses of load and motinordinarily borne by theV beltto cables which both support and propel "the belt. a

A secondary feature ci the invention is the begl-lili'e cross-sectionalform which the belt assmes when employe/din the manner to be 5oindicated, whereby such friction is set up between t-and-itsccntainedmateriel that the latter is readily conveyed even when the beltisA much inclined from the horizontal, thus rendering the apparatuscapable of acting as 5 5 an elevator.

The invention further comprises several,

l novel devices applicable to conveyers of this Be it known that 1,.Renner Maro Sernin,

ty' e. Ipeeking generally? then, c conveyer constructed according tothese ideas consists ci 6e an enflle belt sup )cried end driven by oneor more endless ce ales. At each end of the' ystcm the belt passes overfreely-turning l ruins, while the cables ere Ylaid overiseperatesl1ee\'es,which may else serve to `drive1 them. 65

The cable-sheaves are situated vbetwelllif beyond the belt-drums,according as'thefca- Y bles are located under or .above the.belt.jT-he,

.devices employed for ettaching thegbelieito the oeble or cables arecierren e nature that 7p ivhile serving `to securely Vuni-te the,tWoEfh-iring thetime that they are traveling bLWeen the terminels'o:the systein,'yet unirn tlneii--l arrival at those points seid devices;ing-.gc-

tueted by suitable ap aratus, readily detach the belt from the cab esend perrnit v'eechto run over its proper ldrum or shea'ye,eslthel casemay be.A When twoor more cahlesrez employed, precautions must be taken.el in; i

sure that they all travel et a uniform spged'in order to prevent oneside of the-.blt from. laeing d ragged in advance of the other,A andthus causing the bolt to be jerked and strislnedi i L In order tofurther elucidate the abolie gen! eral explanation, thefollowing'particnlarsde- 85 sription el several practical embodinientsofthe invention is given. Y QQ@ Figo re l is n side elevation ofthatportiorr of s. conveyer mechanism which is at oredja cent tothedriving-terminal'. Fig. 21's e plan 9o 'View of the 'ports showninjFig. 1. 3 Fig 3 is sn end View. Fig. 4 is a. side elevetionfol` theparts at and adjacent to the opio'site termi?? nal. Fig. 5 is a planView oi the perte shown "in Fig. 4. Fig. is e cross-section shoying'supporting devices of one of the forms Vthat een he used for supportingthe eongejfer and the drivingv device at vpoints intermediate of theYterrilinels. Fig.' 7 is sV verticali section showing e modified form ofthese intermedi me atc slmporting'deviccs. Fig. 8 isa erossesee# tion ofe conveyer of modified forrn'e'rboilying' some of my 'imjfa-ovements,the driyingr device in this case being l'ieated relatwely lower than theconveyor proper.: Fig. 9 'is e m5 cross-section of still another form o'theconi veyer. Fig. 'is a side elevation shojrving 'pm-tof a eonveyeralso embody-mg m irriprovements, the drivingdeyics here `'eilt of emodified character in comparison Yfinit '..i fe

that shown in Figs. 1 to 5"' Ia'nd Ithe'speltst shown in this figurebeing et or adjcentto the driving-terminal. Fig. 1l is .a plan view.Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is aside view. Fig. 14 is a plan view, and Fig. 15 is an end View, of theparts at and adjacent to the terminals of the apparatus, partly shown inFigs. 10 to 12. Fig. 16 is a face view; and Fig. 17 is a view in sideelevation, nartly in section, showing one of the forms of intermediatesupporting dc vices for the conveyer and driver. Fig. 18 is a side view,and Fig. 19 is a face view, 'of a modified form of sunport.

Considering first Figs. 1 to 7, 1 is the endless belt, of india-rubberor other suitable material, passed at the terminals around the drums 2and 3, while the cables 4 5 are likewise lapped over the drivin -sheavcs6 7 and the loose sheaves 8 9. T e drum and sheaves at .the driving endare mounted in fixed bearings; but those at the tension end have meansfor shifting them longitudinally in order to permit adjustment of thetensions of the belt and cables, res iectively. In the case of thebelt-drum suc means may conveniently take the form of the two screwedrods 1.0, fixed to the bearings and operated by the hand-wheels '11, thebearings being confined in suitable guides, while the cablesheaves arepreferably mounted upon a ed to it by a pul engaging from it upon beinglifted up.

wheeled carria e 12, running on rails and,

drawn outward by the weight 13, connectfey-guided chain. Uniformity ofmotion may be securedby any known means-such, e. g., as inter-posing a'speedequalizing gear 14 between the two drivingpulleys; but thearrangement hereinattcrdescribed is preferred for this urpose.` The beltis suspended from the calbles by means of a number of suitably.` acedgrip hooks or hangers 15, attached to tlie edges of the belt,

Vof such a nature that when 'pressed onto a cable they grasp itsecurely, while readily dis- The means adopted for freeing the belt fromand rcattaching it tothe cables ut the terminals consists of guides 16,fixed to the framework by the side of the belt, whose shape (clearlyindicated in the drawings) is s ueh that as each hanger approaches adrum it meets a guide by which 1t is detached and lifted froma thccable, while a second guide conducts it back again onto the cable afterit has passed the drum.

Referring to Figs. 2, and it, i1 will be noted that the upperguidcs ltare so ari-.i ngi-d as to have their innermost. ends :uljai-ent to thecupped or troughed edges of the belt at u point beneath the hangers l5,secured to thtl edges of the belt. The guides then extend upwardly at aninclination' to the horizontal and outwardly away from the eenlialvertical longitudinal plane of the belt. 'the hangers 15 engage theguides und ride along upon them and are forced upwiu'dly by themrelatively to the adjacent si rand ol' cable until at 16 they firelifted above and released from the cable. 'lhe guides then divergeoutwardly, and the belt tlattens and passes to the adjacent guide-pulleyor drum 2., It asses around the same and is engaged at the beginning ofits lower run by the lowermost guides 1G, one arranged at either side ofthe system and each converging inwardly from its outer to its innerends. These guides serve to assist in clipping or troughing the belt andto direct the hangers thereon into vertical position, in which they areengaged by the adjacent strands of the cable, which at this sectionofthe system are inclined to the horizontal and run up under4 thehangers and afterl having engaged them bear olf horizontally, as shown.

In Figs. 4 and 5 it will benoted that the lowermost guides 16 have theirinnermost ends closely adjacent to the edges of the belt in its .trf rled or cup )ed condition and that they diver e outward y from thesepoints in sur" manner as to be engaged by the then under surface of thebelt as it tends to flatten out to p. ss around the adjacent drum 3. Atpoints adjacent to these lowermost guides .the lower runs of the cablesslant downwardlyY 'and away from the belt in order to pass around theirguide-sheaves 8 9. It will thus be seen that the cables will beautomatically released at these points from the hangers 15 on the edgesof the belt,'as the hangers cannot follow the strands of cabledownwardly, and the belt will pass freely around the drum. From thenceit extends rearwardly along its upper run and is immediately engaged bythe uppermost guides 1G at this end of the system. These guides convergeinwardly from their outer ends, so as to engage the edges of the belt toassist in cup .ing or troughing it, and they extend upward) at aninclination to the horizontal to a point 1G5L and thence downwardly, asshown. The. hangers 15 on the edges of the belt engage the adjacentguides and ride upwardly and inwardly thcrealong until in verticaloperative position above the adjacent stmnd-of cable, this occurring asthey pass m'er the points 16, and then as they FLail 'downward along theguides they engage witltthecable and pass off of the guides. lt will benoted that the upper surface of the belt along its upper run is thelower surface el' the belt along the lower run and that the belt-drumsat either end of the system and the adjacent guides serve as means forreversing thegrippers, so that along the upper run olI the bolt they:ire turned ilnvardly and :dong the lower run of the belt they ,afjvturned outwardly, as indicated in FigsX ti and 7.

The cables are sustained between the ter-- system T i cables, ettensout, and passes over the drum Poseend eii'ect of which lieve beenhereinbe- :i

creexplained.

'Tlie manner of operating the eonveyer is as follows: Thedriving-pulleys6 7 being minted ,transmit their motion tothe cables, end time throughthe hangers to the belt, which travels fc i'n "the direction indicatedby the arrows. *Materiel is fed onto the upper portion 19 of the "beltet snch points es may be desirable and is conveyed b it Ato thedriving-terminal of the ere the belt is'deteched from the '2M iwhereu,or'T the conveyed material is thr'own'off om it andA discharged into a.hopper or the like. Y

e shown in Figs. 8 or covering long distances, lint is net, like theforegoing, suitable l forilx's'e oneevere upward gradients, since theAbelt'in this type' cannotA conveniently abe along section 253, ontoslieux'e 3U anni is lclivei'ed upon the oppoite side of ilusystem intosection 2G, whence it penses from under sheave 2.9 into 27, and su bywey nl slimme 31 beck again to the point con section 24.

in.one direction und Lire mfc lower ones in the opposite direction andnil nt a uniinrm Speed. Although the culinary horizontal idler, such :isis commonly used n connection with traveling cables, may be employed incarrying ont this invcn tion, yet in order that n shorter'V and less'nnwielcly henger may be used thnnynnld then be the cese the pulley shownin Figs. f, and 17 has' been degive sufiicient clemence to vthellengersf'nt titoledV to the cable, as lillustrated in'Fig; 6, and theeriphery of the pulley is conelfin order to ring its carryingsurface onV which in wiicli is fixed b f set-screws 337e hollow Thus the two topsectiens of the cable {mvv} vised. Yin this the'nxis Ais so inclined asto f-l the cables run into a horizontal position. Such apulley mayconveniently consistl of ja foot 32 of the shape shown in Figs. T6 andl?,

"J" 'illide tfessunie' the' beg-like' form. In this z5 'ae thebelt isdriven'end mainly supported `j the central cable-;:to wiieh it isgripped ','oe' 2,1 orrned of any suitable material,

ndr sidelinethebelthv The usuel cupoftlieedges'oi-the belt is effectedby Y u8, as in present conveyers, or

' `icables 23, Fi 9, moved eta A 4 "i ,'cciinci ingwitli that o thecentralenble .L vvff-Qjilieonly othernnbstantiel differences :.S-f1 fh'andthe suspended type lie in the belt from and reatteeh'ing it to '-5.'tiijjeebe, deeehment being effected by lift- '2L Lisc tiiisef51`:toepenend releese the cable,

Consideringnow the device illustrated in spindle 34, on whic the wheel35'is retained 9o by e. nut 36, screwed onto its end. Abellthrustbeering 37 is preferably inter csed between the nut and the wheel.Lu rice-v tion is effected by oil ilowingrfrcrn tlielnlni-v 'cater 38into the bore of tlieepindie end 95' i iiieneeY tlirengh oilweys 3Q tethe enge? einfece Vetlnereof. In a. modification the wheelruns on econical bearing screwedV onto' the epindle, the angle of the cone beingsuch that the Wheel has `et substantially horizontal bearing. me intiiis'ease the retaining-nut S and thrust-i` eering 37 fire net reiuned.

Figs. i8 and `19 exi ubit nn infini-'eveil grip hoek or hanger forsuspending the belt from the cable, particularly adapted for usefwiththe above-described idcr-pulleyfl In prole# tice it is mede of twopiecesV V4() `4I,'jof sheet metal, cut, bent, and reesed 'es v, l shownnsind hinged to ether'at t e beck by 1 1()l ltiillv, steitdrftherebeing, as bea pin-joint 42.: The Vower end 43 oi the joris, fwd separatecables Whose speeds ere piece 4I is suitably shaped foriixing it te the"equalize@ by n suitable device interposed edge of thebeit. The two ends,44 A cre ,i -Llitween' their iespekitiye` driving-pulleys bent down toform gripping-jaws, the end"44 Qt.Y ereis one'eridlescablenrrengedinfoursecof which proiccts down somewhat beyond- 5e tions 24 25'26 27 bthe sheaves 28 29 at the the end 45, whichV is inclined, as illustrated.:driving ed endV t e sheaves 3) 31 on the The eliectrof thisconstruction istlnitwhenV "tension-carriage? Of the twoformer one thehangen is being affixed the jew `iiret only 1e driven, the other beinloose' on the encircles the cable 46, and subsequentlythe i The twolatter are inc ined from the jaw 45, being drawn down by the Weight of i1 to each other, so that the belt attached to the end 43, jnmsthe`V.cable fed ontoei't er Yof them from one side cable between them,while'during delioollng' of thee stem is delivered from it on the otherfwh'ch is occasioned by the henger meeting side. heir inclination is'suchthat the two en being lifted by an inclined guide 47, the

.upper and two lower cables running between inw 45 is lifted first, undthe rip being thus .6c themlelndthe slieves attlledriving-terminelrelaxed the entire henger rec( ilj,7 parte from are respectivelyparallel. The nature of the the cable. motxoniven to the cable will bereadily uni I claim es my invention-n derstoo by tracing the path of epoint on .V l. in e. eonveyer, thecombinetion of en the latter.Starting, say, from x, it travels endless conveyer-belt sustained bysuspenalong section 24, round slxeave 28, back sion at its edges, and enendless driving device and means for automatically connecting saidendless driving device to the edges ol the conve 'er-belt, substantiallyas described.

2. n a conveyer, the combination of the 5 endless conveyer-belt adaptedto be sustained by suspension at its edges, the endless driving device,and intermediate connecting devices for uniting the aforesaid parts,the)Y being secured to one of them and adapted anio tomatically toconnect it with the other, substantially as described.

3. In a conveyer, the combination of the endless conveyer-belt adaptedto have the edges of its operative part turned upward i 5 relatively tothe longitudinal central part,

,the endless driving device, the intermediate connecting devices at theedges of thc. belt ada ted`automatically to connect it to thc end es sdrivingz device, and supportsl'or thc zo driving device intermediate ofthe ends of the conveyer, substantially as described.

4. n a conveyer, the combination of the A endless conveyer-belt., thcendless driving dew vice and the two rows of connecting devices adapted:automatically to connect the convcyer-belt to the driving device. thoseof one row when in action being on a. line at a distance from the lineof the other row less than the width of the convcver-helt,substantiall)v 3o as described.

5. In a conveyer, the combina-tion ofthe endless ct-invcycr-belt, thesuperposed endless'd riving device adapted to sustain by suspension moreor'less of the conveyor-belt, and

3 5 automatically-actuated connecting means between said conve 'erbeltand said driving device, substantially as described.

6. In a conveyor, thc combination ol' the endless conveyer-beltadaptedto have the 4o edges of its operative part turned relatively upward, theendless driving device and the two rows of connecting devices adaptedauto- I natically to connect thc convcycr-lnlt. to the driving device,those of one row, when m action, being, on a line at a distance lrointhc :line of the other row less than the width of the conveyer-belt,substantially as described 7. In a conveyor, the combination of anendless power-transinitting device, and an 5o endless carrying-belthaving its o icrative arts arranged to travel a iproximate yparalcl tothe endless driving device, and int crinediatc joiningr devices adaptedto automatically connect the convcyerdiclt to the endless drivingdevice, substantially as described.

8. in a conveyor, the. combination ol the endless driving device, thcendless convcycr arranged to have its operative part travelapproximatcly parallel to the driving device,

6o uniting devices joined rigidly to the endless sessie 1 device, the.endless f ionvever-belt arranged to i ha vc its operative partsl travela' iproxiinatclv 1 parallel to the endless driving device, theintcrmcdiate imitingdcviccs permanently connected to one ol' tlicaforesaid parts and detachablv connected to the other, and means forcausing the said connecting devices to inovc into and out of engagementwith the part with which it dctachahl)Y engages, substantiallv as setforth.

lt). ln a convevcr, thc combination of the endless driving device. theendless convcvci'- belt arranged to have its operative parts travelapproximately parallel to tht` endless driving dcvicc. thc intermediateuniting dcviccs comprising arms` i'igidl)1 connected to thcconvevcr-hclt and adapted to intermittently lgrip the endless drivingdevice for cngagcmcnt therewith. and means for moving thi` unitingdevices to and from their po sitions of engagement with anddisengagement from thc endless driving device, substantiall) asdcsci'ihcdi i 1l. in a convevcr, the combination of an endless driverhaving tivo lines of acting parts traveling in the saine direction, aconveyor-belt having its active .parl arranged to travel approxiinatcl)vparallel to the said active parts oll the drivingr device, andintermediate uniting devices, one 'for cach side of thc coiivcyerdielt,cach uniting device being rigidlv secured to one of the said elements towit thc convevcr-hclt or the driving device and being detachabh`connected to the other of said elements, siihstantiall)v as set forth.

l2. ln a convcvei, the combination of an endless power-transmittingdevice having terminal supporting devices at one end ofthe convcvcr svstcm, and terminal supporting devices at the other end of the system,an endless carrying-belt, intermediate joining devices adaptedautomatically to connect thc conveyor-belt to the. endless drivingdcvicc, and supports intermediate of said tci'- minal supporting devicesfor sustainimy the coiivcvcrbclt while in engagement with the drivingdevice,,substantially as set, forth.

13. ln a conveyer, the combination of thc endless driving device havinga terminal support at cach end ol the convev'cr, aiicndlessconveyor-belt, intermediate joining devices connected to the said bcltland dctacliahlv connected with thc driving device, and supportsintermediate ol' the aforesaid terminal supports and engaging direct vivith the driving device to ,sustain it. airl the conve \,fer bell,sulistantiallvais set forth. i

I4. ln a convever, thi` combination of an endless convQvcr-bcltl:idaptcd to lic intrinittcntlv heut from a lat forlii to a troughlikeI'orin, and from thelattcr to the foiiiier, an endless driving device,and vertically-ari ranged connecting hars or arms for intermiti tinglvconnecting the helt to the drivingr de IIS teehgbl ommgthe onvyeriieit'to the device; substantially es eet forth.

ge forjomrxggtfetreu Vh-'lilre part of the belt tlioleiitilss' device,the terminal perte pfjfiheleonveyer-belt. being disconnect,-

@Nee

, wie@ e endless' driving device, energie Y ,t u q jrx'iiiaiupiorts forthe drivirigie; Y A viieg 'tiiatlelvolltsi e of theterrninairrsnpofitlsie'epnveyer-beltond et afxgreater fn tiixioegiiperl.than the distance between the if the (renvoyer-belts, subeelrigcsirir.A'Y ""Q'," eombinatonof the endless een- "Q L; endlosey drivingdevieesituf d..relftiveiyi above ,the conveyor-'belt and Y devieee suspended:from and sus- Y, jg'ie elevatedislriving evicefand iftometially Loecimed said con Seid deivingldeviee and to sop- Q enhstnnliiiilly alssot forth.

elthe.; xotery terinine snpperg piufmiind means for detniahfiblyoonneeting to Tother the forwnrd-inoving ports of' the be tend of thedriving device anni riotiiehnbly eozineetiirT together :lioaiirkivnrdenoving parte@ the bell. und of the drlvingrdevio,

22. In :ifbelt conveyor, the ooinbimitiin with' the eonveyingdielt oi miendless movin@ ambie, hy which the belt is ,en iported unitidrii-en,'n.id cable being arriingwl] in fonr seol tiene by pairs oi.lienvce :it either ond of the system around which itpasses, the sheaveset one end ofv the-system being vertical, one x of them' being odaptedio drive the risible, end those :it the other end being` inclined to thevertical oppositely 1o one another, whereby the two upper sectionsof'eahle are caused to move in one direction and the two lower ones 1 intlieopposite direction and all at a. niforni s eed,'substentillv asherenbefore describe 41nd illustrated 'hy' Figs." 1U to 15 of Vtlleeeoonipenying drain-inge .Y j

23. In n bel't'eonveyer, wliereii'i the beit iis sn portdrr'eid'drivenby n. movlng'ebi'e'r regler-i, a grip-liooii or hanger for suspendingthe belt from the (zahle or cables, comprising a. plate xed'to the edgeof the bolt sind so' benttiiet'iifliile clearing the idlers ori'ivhielrthe calilerunis, it bringe the edge of tliebelt vertieziiy undertlieealile7 the doivr'itirried gew of e wodgerslmped mom-li, -tlieother' somewhat longer jaw of which is formed by li fwiitnrned end of n.second plete so piv oted tothe Jmick of' the iirsl' pluie thatdiiivnwerdY pressure on the latter muses the jaws to. clutch tliecnhloinserted into them sind vien l Veroli', soliste: ilfiiilly ns hereinlmfom deseriheil "iidi'ihietrel-erl by Figs. 1S nud lil oftliejfiorinniying drawings. i

24. in a. conveyor, tho combination ol' iifii' endives iu iiveyei"lwlt.,iorniiinii siij'ipnrts for' hekelt., un endless driving device, terminaliiporln for the :mid driving* "ile'ieefinde vendent of' mit]ierniiinilsni orts for the oit, und nien-nhv for doinriniiiiyeonneetifng the. oonveyenbelt to the driving device.

25. in a, conveyor, rho f 'oinlainnliin of iin' endlessff'iirivingdevine having i1 forward- 'niovn rfpzir 15nd e*lizieliiifznd-niovingpart, 'an ein loss conveyor-bell. having n. forward-l moving part Vsind:1. imcinrard-inoving part, and menne adapted autonwt-ienlly to connecttogether the frirwzirrl-lnoving piu-l of the heliand nf the drivingderive, und also to' autel imrtirnily connect. together the `lmclnvu`-dmoving port of the bolt and of the driving deviee. y Y 26, if'elnifivereye-teni comprisingiin endless ririviiiig eiirlierg'fiiii endlesscarrying member fernrfrteruil, and ineens carried by one' o seidmember-S adopted mljo'iintirnlly to' {"oiniorlV to und disconnect itnfloin the ot-heroin; Y

il?.k A onjnl'eyer -fiyetexn coniprising ain'cn'd- 95 nriper end of sindplate fornung'one inellrivkl roo izo

'res

less member, an endless caril ing member for .niaterial, andmeans'carrie by one of said members ada ted automatically to grip andthen release t e other one.

28. Aconveyer comprising an endless driv' ing element, anendless-conveyer-belt element, and means carried by either of said elevments adapted to automatically connect it to and disconnect it from theother clement.

29. A conveyer comprising an endless driving mechanism, an endless belt,and means carried at the edges of said belt adapted to automaticallyconnect it to and disconnect it from said endless vdriving mechanism.

30. A conveyer'coinprising an endless driving member, an endlessconveying ineinbei' having runs arranged substantially parallel vithand'adjacent te ,the'upper and loweij runs of said endless drivingmechanism, and means carried by one of said members adapted toautomatically connect it to and disconnect it from the other of saidmembers` 31. A conveyer com )rising an endless driving mechanism, an enless belt having its upL per and lower runs arranged substantial yparallel with and adjacent to theiipper and ower runs of said endlessdriving mechanism, and means carried by said endless belt adapted toautomatically connect it to and disconnect it from said drivingmechanism.

32. A conveyer comprising an endless driving mechanism, an endless belthaving its up- .per and lower runs arranged substantially arallel withand adjacent to the upper and ower runs of said endless drivingmechanism, and means carried by said endless belt adapted toautomatically connect it to and disconnect it from said drivingmechanism along both its upper and lower runs.

33. A conveyer comprising an endless-cable driving mechanism, an endlessmaterialcarrying belt, and means carried by said belt adapted toautomatically grip the cable of said endless driving mechanism.

34. A conveyer Vcomprising an endless di'iving mechanism, an endlessconveyer arranged within the path of travel of said endless drivingmechanism, and means carried by the said conveyer for automaticallyconnecting it to and disconnecting it from said endless drivingmechanism.

35. A conveyer comprising an endless driving member, an endlessconveying member having runs arranged substantially parallel with andadjacent to the upper and lower horizontal runs of said driving member,and means carried by one of said members adapted to automaticallyconnect it to and disconnectit from the other of said members alongeither its upper or lower horizontal ru n.

36. A conveyercomprising an endless driving mechanism having upper andlower substantially horizontal runs, an endless carrymechanism havingupper and lower runs adjacent to'and parallel with the upper and lowerhorizontal runs of said endless driving inechanisinf and means carriedby said endless conveying mechanism adapted automaticall toconnect it tosaid endless driving mechanism along its upper horizontal flight andalong its lower horizontal run.

37. A conveyer comprising an endless driving mechanism having upper aiidlower siibstantially horizontal trims, an endless carrying mechanismhavin upper and lower runs adjacent t,o and para lel with the upper andlower horizontal runs of said endless driving mechanism, and gripperscarried by said endless carrier adapted automatically to connect it tosaid endless driving mechanism along both its upper and lower runs, andmeans for. reversing said grippers between the upper and lower runs ofsaid endless carrier to bring them into proper gripping relation withthe said endless drivingjmechanism along both its upper and lower runs.

38. A cenveyer comprising an endless driving mechanism having upper andlower substantially horizontal runs, an endless carrying mechanism havinupper and lower runs adjacent to and parael with the upper and lowerhorizontal runs of said endless driving mechanism, and aitomatic drivingmechan. ism engaging grippers secured to the edges of said. endlessbelt, and means arranged between tlie upper and lower runs of saidendless beltfor trougbing it so as to osition the said grippers inproper relation with the endless driving mechanism to engage it alongboth its upper and llower runs. A` v 39. A conveyor comprising anendlessmaterialcarrying member, an endless-cable driving mechanismtherefor formed of a single piece of cable arranged to havetwo upperstrands each arranged substantially parallelv with and adjacent to oneedge of the p er horizontal run of said endless carrier, andp to havetwo lower strands, each arranged parallel with and adjacent. to one edgeof the said endless carrier along its lower horizontal run, and meansfor guiding land directin the said endless cable along its different patadapted to cause its upper strands to travel substantially uniformly andin the same direction, and to cause its lowerstrands to.travelsubstantially uniformly in tlie oppositedireetion,and means forconnecting said materialcarrying member and said cable driving mechanismtogether.

40. A coiiveyer comprising an endless mateiialcarrying member, anendless-cable driving mechanism therefor formed of s. single piece ofcable arranged to have two up er strands, each arranged substantiallypara lel with and adjacent to one edge of the u per horizontal run ofsaid endless carrier, to ave two lower strands, each arran ed parallelwith and adjacent to one edge of 51e said' end- IOS -pzoause its lesscarrier along its lower Ahorizonsa run, and noch it to Said cable bothalong its upper and ro moans for gudl'lg and directing the said eri--ower strands.

less cable along lts different paths afaptod to In witness whereof havehereunto set my causo itsluppz Shrds to trag/'el substantlday hand inpresence of two Witnesses. umf' prin an in t e same reotion an to 'y l Yvower strands to travel substfmtally ROBERT MAX O, CA'l LEN uxformly in.the olosite direction, and Witnesses? v means corrieri by sa; endlessmaterial-oar. HROLD ERNEST Krso Tying member adapted Vto detaohably con#l ALE. SNEDFROMBE.

